PEDESTRIAN CROSSING (Request by residents of Peng Ghee Road)

Mr Poh Ber Liak asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that the pedestrian crossing on the main road, requested by the residents of Peng Ghee Road during his constituency visit to Tampines, has not been made, and what action he has taken or proposes to take in the matter.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister (Inche Yaacob Bin Mohamed Al-Haj) (for the Prime Minister): (In Malay): Mr Speaker, Sir, I have been requested by the Hon, the Prime Minister to make a reply. During the Prime Minister's visit to the Tampines constituency on the 21st March, 1963, he received a petition from the villagers of Kampong Chai Chee requesting the Government to provide a pedestrian crossing at 6¾ m.s. Upper Changi Road.

This request was investigated, and a reply was sent to the petitioners ---

Mr Poh Ber Liak (Tampines): (In Mandarin): (No translation.)

Mr Speaker: What is the Member's point of order? Will he repeat what he has said just now, because no translation seems to be coming through? Could the Member for Tampines kindly press his button and then speak into the microphone so that the interpreters would be able to hear him and render a translation of his speech?

Mr Poh Ber Liak: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, just now I could not hear anything. Now I would like to hear the answer to the first question.

Inche Yaacob Bin Mohamed Al-Haj (Southern Islands): (In Malay): Mr Speaker, Sir, I have been requested by the Hon. the Prime Minister to reply to the question.

During the Prime Minister's visit to the Tampines constituency on the 21st March, 1963, he received a petition from the villagers of Kampong Chai Chee requesting the Government to provide a pedestrian crossing at 6¾ m.s. Upper Changi Road.

This request was investigated, and a reply was sent to the petitioners on 29th August, 1963, informing them that their request could not be granted for the following reasons:

(i) The Traffic Police authorities are satisfied that, along this portion of Changi Road, there are suflicient breaks in the flow of traffic to allow pedestrians to cross the road safely; and

(ii) the site is unsuitable for a pedestrian crossing, as there is a very sharp bend, and two bus-stops close to the bend, at 6¾ m.s. Upper Changi Road.

The petitioners have since written to express their appreciation of the reasons for this decision.